Hensley Arrow: How does it REALLY work?
There have been several discussions on this hitch that have become somewhat 'controversial'. I am NOT trying to stir this controversy/bashing back up. Instead, I'd like to see a good, intelligent di...
Forum Discussion
smthbros wrote:
Ron,
Thanks for taking time to explain how the Hensley works. I made a model out of sheet metal strips. It appears to me that in order for the front of a trailer (with a HA) to move sideways the motion of the rear of the TV is in the opposite direction. Might this be a third reason for why the HA works?
J Smith
J,
The model I've constructed has a "front link" which is 7 1/8", two "side links" which are 5", and a "rear link" which is 7 7/8". I put the front link in a vise to simulate the fixity of the rear of the TV and then observe how the other three links move. Since I don't know how your test was conducted, it's hard to comment on what you observed.
However, let's assume you're observing a northbound TT which, for whatever reason, has swung toward the east. If you are standing at the front of the TT, the rear of the TV will appear to have moved to the west. If you're standing at the rear of the TV, the TT will appear to have moved to the east. And, if you are standing at a point in between the front of the TT and the rear of the TV, the TT will appear to move east while the TV appears to move west. This will happen with any kind of hitch system. I don't think it's a special characteristic of the HA.
Ron
